Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs (w/ Brown Sugar Rub) Recipe
These Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs are a delightfully tender and flavorful dish that will have everyone asking for seconds. With a simple brown sugar rub and a finishing touch on the grill or in the oven, these ribs are perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone delicious.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-8 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes - 8 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking, Grilling, Oven-Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Brown Sugar Rub:
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
- 4 tablespoons brown sugar
Ribs:
- 2 2½ – 3 pound racks pork ribs, such as baby back ribs or St. Louis-style spareribs (5–6 pounds total)
- ½ cup prepared BBQ sauce, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Make the Spice Rub: Combine the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and brown sugar in a small bowl, stirring to combine.
- Prepare the Ribs: Pat the ribs dry with paper towels, then cut into 3- to 4-ribs per section so that they will fit into the slow cooker. Sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar rub, pressing it into the meaty parts.
- Add ⅓ cup water to a 6-quart oval slow cooker. Arrange the ribs upright in the slow cooker with the thick ends pointing down and meaty side against the sides, overlapping as needed.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-5 hours, or low for 4-8 hours, or until the meat is very tender but not yet quite falling off the bone.
- Finish in the Oven: Adjust the oven rack 4 inches from the broiler. Line a baking sheet with foil, then transfer the ribs, meaty-side-up, to the prepared sheet. Brush evenly with half the BBQ sauce, then broil until the sauce is bubbling and beginning to char, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven, brush with remaining sauce, tent with foil, and let rest for 5 minutes. Cut ribs between bones to separate and serve with additional BBQ sauce if desired.
- Finish on the Grill: Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Brush the ribs evenly with half the sauce, then transfer the cooked ribs to the grill, meaty-side-down. Grill uncovered for about 5 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and just beginning to char—watch closely to prevent burning. Remove from the grill, brush with remaining sauce, and tent with foil. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing between the bones and serving with extra BBQ sauce, if you like.
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the ribs in the spice rub overnight before cooking.
- Adjust the sweetness of the ribs by adding more or less brown sugar to the rub.
- Make sure to let the ribs rest after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute for maximum flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: Approximately 650
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 850mg
- Fat: 45g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 45g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: BBQ Pork Ribs, Slow Cooker Ribs, Easy Ribs Recipe, BBQ Ribs Rub
